U.S. patent number 9,631,484 [Application Number 13/769,328] was granted by the patent office on 2017-04-25 for drilling system having a super-capacitor amplifier and a method for transmitting signals.
This patent grant is currently assigned to R&B Industrial Supply Co.. The grantee listed for this patent is Vadim Buryakovsky, Yevgeniy Filipp Fiterman, Vladimir Rozenblit, Lawrence Chang-Yung Wang. Invention is credited to Vadim Buryakovsky, Yevgeniy Filipp Fiterman, Vladimir Rozenblit, Lawrence Chang-Yung Wang.
United States Patent |
9,631,484 |
Rozenblit , et al. |
April 25, 2017 |
Drilling system having a super-capacitor amplifier and a method for
transmitting signals
Abstract
A drilling system that may include a drilling element for
drilling a hole in a geological formation; a sensor module arranged
to collect information about the drilling; a transmitter that is
arranged to receive the information from the sensor module, amplify
the information by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified
information and to provide the amplified information to a first
element and to a second element of an antenna, the first and second
elements of the antenna are located at two opposite sides of a band
gap; wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit the amplified
information via the geological formation; wherein the
super-capacitor amplifier comprises a plurality of switched
capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter comprises a
plurality of converter stages, each converter stage comprises
capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current
amplification of an input signal; wherein each converter stage is
arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discharge
cycles.
Inventors: |
Rozenblit; Vladimir (Houston,
TX), Buryakovsky; Vadim (Houston, TX), Wang; Lawrence
Chang-Yung (Mountain View, CA), Fiterman; Yevgeniy
Filipp (Houston, TX) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rozenblit; Vladimir
Buryakovsky; Vadim
Wang; Lawrence Chang-Yung
Fiterman; Yevgeniy Filipp |
Houston
Houston
Mountain View
Houston |
TX
TX
CA
TX |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
R&B Industrial Supply Co.
(Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
51350340 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/769,328 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140231139 A1 |
Aug 21, 2014 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
47/13 (20200501); E21B 47/125 (20200501) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
47/12 (20120101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gitlin; Elizabeth
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reches Patents
Claims
We claim:
1. A drilling system, comprising: a drilling element for drilling a
hole in a geological formation; a sensor module arranged to collect
information about the drilling; a transmitter that is arranged to
receive the information from the sensor module, amplify the
information by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified
information and to provide the amplified information to a first
element and to a second element of an antenna, the first and second
elements of the antenna are located at two opposite sides of a band
gap; wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit the amplified
information via the geological formation; wherein the
super-capacitor amplifier comprises a plurality of switched
capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter comprises a
plurality of converter stages, each converter stage comprises
capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current
amplification of an input signal; and wherein each converter stage
is arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discharge
cycles.
2. The drilling system according to claim 1, comprising a
cylindrical housing that surrounds the super-capacitor amplifier
and a power source that powers the super-capacitor amplifier.
3. The drilling system according to claim 2, wherein the
cylindrical housing comprises multiple compartments, wherein at
least one compartment is arranged to surround the power source and
at least one compartment is arranged to surround at least a portion
of the super-capacitor amplifier.
4. The drilling system according to claim 3, wherein the
cylindrical housing comprises multiple windows that correspond to
the multiple compartments.
5. The drilling system according to claim 1, comprises a current
limiting circuit for limiting a power consumed by the plurality of
switched capacitors.
6. The drilling system according to claim 1, wherein each converter
stage comprises an input switch coupled to a first end of the
capacitor, a first output switch having a first end coupled to the
first end of the capacitor and a second output switch having a
first end coupled to a second end of the capacitor.
7. The drilling system according to claim 6, wherein each switched
capacitor converter comprises a plurality of capacitors, a
plurality of first switches, a plurality of first output switches,
and a plurality of second output switches; wherein second ends of
the first output switches are coupled to each other to form a first
output of the switched capacitor converter; wherein second ends of
the second output switches are coupled to each other to form a
second output of the switched capacitor converter; and wherein the
plurality of capacitors and the plurality of first switched are
coupled to each other in a serial and an alternating manner to form
a sequence, wherein the sequence is coupled between a ground
connection and an input of the switched capacitor converter.
8. The drilling system according to claim 7, comprising an output
network that is coupled between first outputs of the plurality of
switched capacitor converters, second outputs of the plurality of
switched capacitor converters and between two outputs of the
transmitter.
9. The drilling system according to claim 8, wherein the output
network switches in an alternating manner between switched
capacitor converts and the two outputs of the transmitter.
10. The drilling system according to claim 8, wherein the output
network couples in an alternating manner the two outputs of the
transmitter to either one of (a) a first output of a first switched
capacitor converter and a second output of the first switched
capacitor converter, and (b) a second output of a second switched
capacitor converter and a first output of the second switched
capacitor converter.
11. The drilling system according to claim 7, wherein the first
output of the switched capacitor converter is coupled to the first
element of the antenna and wherein the second output of the
switched capacitor converter is coupled to the second element of
the antenna.
12. The drilling system according to claim 1, wherein the super
capacitor amplifier comprises an upper printed circuit board (PCB)
that is coupled to a first bank of switched capacitors that are
arranged to provide a positive half cycle output and a lower PCB
that is coupled to a second bank of switched capacitors that are
arranged to provide a negative half cycle output.
13. A method, comprising: drilling a hole in a geological
formation; collecting information about the drilling; receiving, by
a transmitter, information from the sensor module; amplifying the
information by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified
information; providing the amplified information to a first element
and to a second element of an antenna, the first and second
elements of the antenna are located at two opposite sides of a band
gap; transmitting, by the antenna, the amplified information via
the geological formation; wherein the super-capacitor amplifier
comprises a plurality of switched capacitor converters, each
switched capacitor converter comprises a plurality of converter
stages, each converter stage comprises capacitors and switches that
are arranged to perform a current amplification of an input signal;
wherein each converter stage is arranged to operate with
alternating charge cycles and discharge cycles.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the super-capacitor
amplifier comprises a cylindrical housing that surrounds the
super-capacitor amplifier and a power source that powers the
super-capacitor amplifier.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the cylindrical
housing comprises multiple compartments, wherein at least one
compartment is arranged to surround the power source and at least
one compartment is arranged to surround at least a portion of the
super-capacitor amplifier.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the cylindrical
housing comprises multiple windows that correspond to the multiple
compartments.
17. The method according to claim 13, comprising limiting a power
consumed by the plurality of switched capacitors.
18. The method according to claim 13, wherein each converter stage
comprises an input switch coupled to a first end of the capacitor,
a first output switch having a first end coupled to the first end
of the capacitor and a second output switch having a first end
coupled to a second end of the capacitor.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein each switched
capacitor converter comprises a plurality of capacitors, a
plurality of first switches, a plurality of first output switches,
and a plurality of second output switches; wherein second ends of
the first output switches are coupled to each other to form a first
output of the switched capacitor converter; wherein second ends of
the second output switches are coupled to each other to form a
second output of the switched capacitor converter; and wherein the
plurality of capacitors and the plurality of first switched are
coupled to each other in a serial and an alternating manner to form
a sequence, wherein the sequence is coupled between a ground
connection and an input of the switched capacitor converter.
20. The method according to claim 19, comprising an output network
that is coupled between first outputs of the plurality of switched
capacitor converters, second outputs of the plurality of switched
capacitor converters and between two outputs of the
transmitter.
21. The method according to claim 20, comprising, switching, by the
output network, in an alternating manner, between switched
capacitor converters and the two outputs of the transmitter.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the output network
couples in an alternating manner, and the two outputs of the
transmitter and either one of (a) a first output of a first
switched capacitor converter and a second output of the first
switched capacitor converter, and (b) a second output of a second
switched capacitor converter and a first output of the second
switched capacitor converter.
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first output of
the switched capacitor converter is coupled to the first element of
the antenna and wherein the second output of the switched capacitor
converter is coupled to the second element of the antenna.
24. The method according to claim 13, wherein the super capacitor
amplifier comprises an upper printed circuit board (PCB) that is
coupled to a first bank of switched capacitors that are arranged to
provide a positive half cycle output and a lower PCB that is
coupled to a second bank of switched capacitors that are arranged
to provide a negative half cycle output.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Drilling systems and especially drilling systems having telemetry
modules for underground drilling such as oil field
applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An underground drilling process may be monitored and information
relating to the drilling process can be transmitted to a receiver
that is located above the ground. One transmission technique known
as electromagnetic telemetry (EM) uses low frequency (few hertz)
transmission of information through a geological formation that is
being drilled. U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,160 of Dopf et al illustrates a
prior art drilling system that has an EM telemetry module, and
especially a band gap. The band gap electrically insulates two
elements of an antenna. The antenna should be large in order to be
effective in the low frequency range.
The information that is to be transmitted above the surface is
usually encoded in a time-base pulse scheme or by modulation of a
carrier wave.
Some prior art EM tools have only been optimized to operate in open
hole conditions where geological formation impedance typically
exceeds one ohm.
Recent EM tools should be expected to operate in the low impedance
geological formations that exhibit an impedance of much less than
one ohm.
Some prior art EM tools have used transformer and inductor-based
converters which do not cope well with these low impedance
geological formations, producing little output at low efficiency
with such loads.
New types of EM tools are needed to produce higher output in these
low impedance conditions that work at higher efficiency which allow
the EM tools to operate longer downhole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an embodiment of the invention a drilling system may
be provided and it may include a drilling element for drilling a
hole in a geological formation; a sensor module arranged to collect
information about the drilling; a transmitter that is arranged to
receive the information from the sensor module, amplify the
information by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified
information and to provide the amplified information to a first
element and to a second element of an antenna, the first and second
elements of the antenna are located at two opposite sides of a band
gap; wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit the amplified
information via the geological formation; wherein the
super-capacitor amplifier may include a plurality of switched
capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter may include
a plurality of converter stages, each converter stage may include
capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current
amplification of an input signal; wherein each converter stage is
arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discharge
cycles.
The drilling system may include a cylindrical housing that
surrounds the super-capacitor amplifier and a power source that
powers the super-capacitor amplifier.
The cylindrical housing may include multiple compartments, wherein
at least one compartment is arranged to surround the power source
and at least one compartment is arranged to surround at least
apportion of the super-capacitor amplifier.
The cylindrical housing may include multiple windows that
correspond to the multiple compartments.
The drilling system may include a current limiting circuit for
limiting a power consumed by the plurality of switched
capacitors.
Each converter stage may include an input switch coupled to a first
end of the capacitor, a first output switch having a first end
coupled to the first end of the capacitor and a second output
switch having a first end coupled to a second end of the
capacitor.
Each switched capacitor converter may include a plurality of
capacitors, a plurality of first switches, a plurality of first
output switches, and a plurality of second output switches; wherein
second ends of the first output switches are coupled to each other
to form a first output of the switched capacitor converter; wherein
second ends of the second output switches are coupled to each other
to form a second output of the switched capacitor converter; and
wherein the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of first
switched are coupled to each other in a serial and an alternating
manner to form a sequence, wherein the sequence is coupled between
a ground connection and an input of the switched capacitor
converter.
The drilling system may include an output network that is coupled
between first outputs of the plurality of switched capacitor
converters, second outputs of the plurality of switched capacitor
converters and between two outputs of the transmitter.
The output network switches in an alternating manner between
switched capacitor converters and the two outputs of the
transmitter.
The output network couples in an alternating manner the two outputs
of the transmitter to either one of (a) a first output of a first
switched capacitor converter and a second output of the first
switched capacitor converter, and (b) a second output of a second
switched capacitor converter and a first output of the second
switched capacitor converter.
The first output of the switched capacitor converter is coupled to
the first element of the antenna and wherein the second output of
the switched capacitor converter is coupled to the second element
of the antenna.
According to an embodiment of the invention a method is provided
and may include: drilling a hole in a geological formation;
collecting information about the drilling;
receiving, by a transmitter, information from the sensor module;
amplifying the information by a super-capacitor amplifier to
provide amplified information; providing the amplified information
to a first element and to a second element of an antenna, the first
and second elements of the antenna are located at two opposite
sides of a band gap; and transmitting, by the antenna, the
amplified information via the geological formation; wherein the
super-capacitor amplifier may include a plurality of switched
capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter may include
a plurality of converter stages, each converter stage may include
capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current
amplification of an input signal; wherein each converter stage is
arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discharge
cycles.
The super-capacitor amplifier may include a cylindrical housing
that surrounds the super-capacitor amplifier and a power source
that powers the super-capacitor amplifier.
The cylindrical housing may include multiple compartments, wherein
at least one compartment is arranged to surround the power source
and at least one compartment is arranged to surround at least a
portion of the super-capacitor amplifier.
The cylindrical housing may include multiple windows that
correspond to the multiple compartments.
The method may include limiting a power consumed by the plurality
of switched capacitors.
The each converter stage may include an input switch coupled to a
first end of the capacitor, a first output switch having a first
end coupled to the first end of the capacitor and a second output
switch having a first end coupled to a second end of the
capacitor.
Each switched capacitor converter may include a plurality of
capacitors, a plurality of first switches, a plurality of first
output switches, and a plurality of second output switches; wherein
second ends of the first output switches are coupled to each other
to form a first output of the switched capacitor converter; wherein
second ends of the second output switches are coupled to each other
to form a second output of the switched capacitor converter; and
wherein the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of first
switched are coupled to each other in a serial and an alternating
manner to form a sequence, wherein the sequence is coupled between
a ground connection and an input of the switched capacitor
converter.
The method may include an output network that is coupled between
first outputs of the plurality of switched capacitor converters,
second outputs of the plurality of switched capacitor converters
and between two outputs of the transmitter.
The method may include switching, by the output network, in an
alternating manner, between switched capacitor converters and the
two outputs of the transmitter.
The output network couples in an alternating manner, and the two
outputs of the transmitter and either one of (a) a first output of
a first switched capacitor converter and a second output of the
first switched capacitor converter, and (b) a second output of a
second switched capacitor converter and a first output of the
second switched capacitor converter.
The first output of the switched capacitor converter is coupled to
the first element of the antenna and wherein the second output of
the switched capacitor converter is coupled to the second element
of the antenna.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly
pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the
specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and
method of operation, together with objects, features, and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following detailed description when read with the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling system and its environment according
to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a single
converter stage of the super-capacitor signal amplifier according
to in an embodiment the invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a converter of
the super-capacitor signal amplifier according to in an embodiment
the invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates the super-capacitor signal amplifier according
to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of the super-capacitor signal
amplifier according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a housing of the super-capacitor signal
amplifier according to in an embodiment the invention; and
FIG. 7 illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the
invention.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the
elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.
Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be
repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,
procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as
not to obscure the present invention.
Considered broadly, a drilling system is provided and may include
switched capacitor converters, each of which includes a plurality
of converter stages utilizing capacitors to convert input power to
a higher current output. These converters operate with alternating
charge and discharge cycles to store power from the power source,
typically batteries, during a charge cycle, and then deliver power
from the converter to the converter output during a discharge
cycle. Several converters may be used in the same super-capacitor
signal amplifier to provide unipolar, bipolar, or multi-step
output.
The charge and discharge cycle can have a period of about 500
micro-seconds although other periods can be applied.
The output signal can have a maximum transmission frequency of 2
kHz, but other frequencies can be used.
The number of bits transmitted by the transmitter can depend on the
coding scheme.
An input signal to be amplified by the super-capacitor signal
amplifier is obtained from an external source via an input
network.
A current limiting circuit is used on the power input side to
control the rate of charge of the charge storage and thus
ultimately the output power. The current limiting circuit also
serves to regulate the current drawn from the power source,
typically batteries, so that the battery life is prolonged due to
lack of current peaks. Finally, the current limiting circuit
provides galvanic isolation between the input power source and the
rest of the super-capacitor signal amplifier.
Each stage of each converter is comprised of a capacitance unit and
three switches. A capacitance unit consists of a plurality of
capacitors arranged in a way as to tolerate the portion of the
maximum input voltage to be applied to the converter. One switch is
used to control power input into the capacitance unit during a
charge cycle. Two more switches are used to control power output to
a load from the capacitance unit during the discharge cycle.
A plurality of the stages is connected in such a manner as to
series the input sides of the stages with switches and capacitance
units in alternation, resulting in a string of capacitance units
that can be charged by closing all the input switches and applying
power to the top and bottom of the resultant capacitance unit
string. In addition, the output sides of the stages are connected
such that all of the switches with one leg in direct electrical
contact with the higher voltage side of the corresponding capacitor
unit have their other leg all connected to a common point deemed
the converter output, and the switches with one leg in direct
electrical contact with the lower voltage side of the corresponding
capacitor unit have their other leg all connected to a common point
deemed the converter output return, such that all of the output
switches may be closed to discharge all of the capacitance units in
parallel into a load connected between the converter output and the
converter output return.
An output network consisting of switches and possibly filtering
circuitry connects the output of each converter to the
super-capacitor signal amplifier output.
For unipolar output, a single converter is used with its output and
output return connected as the super-capacitor signal amplifier
output and super-capacitor signal amplifier output return.
For bipolar output, two such converters are alternately switched
through switches to the EM tool's output. One converter has its
output connected to the super-capacitor signal amplifier output,
and the converter's output return connected to the super-capacitor
signal amplifier output return. The second converter has its output
connected to the super-capacitor signal amplifier output return,
and the converter's output return connected to the super-capacitor
signal amplifier output.
For multi-step output, many such converters are switched through
switches to the super-capacitor signal amplifier output with
polarities depending on the expected input signal. Filtration may
be used to prevent excessive voltage transients from damaging
switches in the output network.
A controller is used to control various functions of the
super-capacitor signal amplifier. The controller closes and opens
switches in the converters to effect charge and discharge cycles.
The controller will also ensure adequate dead time between such
cycles to prevent damage to the super-capacitor power amplifier
from shoot-through and voltage transients. The controller opens and
closes switches in the output network to produce an amplified
version of the input signal on the super-capacitor signal amplifier
output, with dead times to prevent damage to the super-capacitor
power amplifier from shoot-through and voltage transients.
FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling system 200 according to an embodiment
of the invention. FIG. 1 illustrates the drilling system 200 as
drilling a hole 410 in a geological formation 410. Dashed arrows
400 indicate that low frequency radiation is being transmitted
through the geological formation 410 and some of it may be received
by a receiver 440 that is positioned above the ground.
Drilling system 200 may include: (a) a drilling element 230 for
drilling a hole in a geological formation; (b) a sensor module 220
arranged to collect information about the drilling; (c) a band gap
202, (d) an antenna that has a first element 201 and to a second
element 203 that are located at two opposite sides of the band gap
202, wherein the antenna is arranged to transmit the amplified
information via the geological formation, and (e) a transmitter 210
that is arranged to receive the information from the sensor module,
amplify the information by a super-capacitor amplifier 310 to
provide amplified information and to provide the amplified
information to the first element 201 and to the second element 203
of the antenna.
The super-capacitor amplifier 310 of the transmitter 210 may
include a plurality of switched capacitor converters 312, each
switched capacitor converter may include a plurality of converter
stages. Each converter stage may include capacitors and switches
that are arranged to perform a current amplification of an input
signal. Each converter stage may be arranged to operate with
alternating charge cycles and discharge cycles.
FIG. 1 also illustrates the transmitter 210 as including a power
source 212 that may include one or more batteries. Alternatively,
the power source can 212 be connected to the transmitter 210 and
not belong to the transmitter 210. The system can include one or
more power sources.
The drilling system may include a cylindrical housing (denoted 500
in FIGS. 8 and 9) that surrounds the super-capacitor amplifier and
a power source that powers the super-capacitor amplifier. The
cylindrical housing can be shaped and sized to be included in a
piping line that may, in turn, surround most elements (210, 220 and
part of 230) of the drilling system.
The cylindrical housing 500 may include multiple compartments,
wherein at least one compartment is arranged to surround the power
source and at least one compartment is arranged to surround at
least a portion of the super-capacitor amplifier. Examples of such
compartments are provided in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The cylindrical housing may include multiple windows that
correspond to the multiple compartments.
The drilling system 200 may include a current limiting circuit
(denoted 46 in FIG. 4) for limiting a power consumed by the
plurality of switched capacitors.
Referring to FIG. 2, a converter stage 313 may include an input
switch 1 coupled to a first end of a capacitor 2, a first output
switch 3 having a first end coupled to the first end of the
capacitor and a second output switch 4 having a first end coupled
to a second end of the capacitor.
Referring to FIG. 3, a switched capacitor converter 312 may include
a plurality of capacitors (6, 10, 14 and 18), a plurality of first
switches (5,9,13 and 17), a plurality of first output switches
(7,11,15 and 19), and a plurality of second output switches (8,12,
16 and 20). Second ends of the first output switches are coupled to
each other to form a first output 312(2) of the switched capacitor
converter 312. Second ends of the second output switches are
coupled to each other to form a second output 312(3) of the
switched capacitor converter 312. The plurality of capacitors and
the plurality of first switched are coupled to each other in a
serial and an alternating manner to form a sequence, wherein the
sequence is coupled between a ground connection and an input 312(1)
of the switched capacitor converter.
The drilling system 200 may include an output network (denoted 37
in FIG. 4) that is coupled between first outputs of the plurality
of switched capacitor converters (denoted 31 and 32 in FIG. 4),
second outputs of the plurality of switched capacitor converters
and between two outputs (denoted 41 and 42 in FIG. 4) of the
transmitter 210.
The output network 37 switches in an alternating manner between
switched capacitor converters 31 and 32 and the two outputs 42 and
43 of the transmitter 210.
The output network 37 may couple in an alternating manner the two
outputs of the transmitter to either one of (a) a first output of a
first switched capacitor converter and a second output of the first
switched capacitor converter, and (b) a second output of a second
switched capacitor converter and a first output of the second
switched capacitor converter.
Referring to FIG. 4, the super-capacitor signal amplifier 310 may
include of switched capacitor converters 31 and 32, each of which
is comprised of a plurality of converter stages utilizing
capacitors to convert input power to a higher current output.
An input signal to be amplified by the super-capacitor signal
amplifier is obtained from an external source via an input network
25 on an input 23 and an input return 24.
A current limiting circuit 46 is used on the power input side to
control rate of charge of the charge storage. The current limiting
circuit also serves to regulate the current drawn from the power
source 44 which are batteries 45. The current limiting circuit
provides galvanic isolation from the power source 44 to the rest of
the super-capacitor signal amplifier.
Each stage of each converter is comprised of a capacitance unit 2
and three switches 3-5. A capacitance unit 2 consists of a
plurality of capacitors arranged in a way as to tolerate the
portion of the maximum input voltage to be applied to the
converter. One switch 1 is used to control power input 47, 48 into
the capacitance unit 2 during a charge cycle. Two more switches 2,
3 are used to control power output to the converter output 33-36
from the capacitance unit 2 during the discharge cycle.
A plurality of the stages is connected in such a manner as to
series the input sides of the stages with switches 5, 9, 13, 17 and
capacitance units 6, 10, 14, 18 in alternation, resulting in a
string of capacitance units that can be charged by closing all the
input switches and applying power to the top +INPUT and bottom GND
of the resultant capacitance unit string. In addition, the output
sides of the stages are connected such that all of the switches 7,
11, 15, 19 with one leg in direct electrical contact with the
higher voltage side of the corresponding capacitor unit have their
other leg all connected to a common point deemed the converter
output 21, and the switches 8, 12, 16, 20 with one leg in direct
electrical contact with the lower voltage side of the corresponding
capacitor unit have their other leg all connected to a common point
deemed the converter output return 312(3), such that all of the
output switches 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20 may be closed to
discharge all of the capacitance units 6, 10, 14, 18 in parallel
into the converter output 21 and the converter output return
312(3).
An output network 37 may include switches 38-41 connects the output
of each converter 31, 32 to the super-capacitor signal amplifier
output 42, 43.
A controller 28 is used to control various functions of the
super-capacitor signal amplifier. The controller closes and opens
switches 5, 7-9, 11-13, 15-17, 19-20 in the converters 31, 32 to
effect charge and discharge cycles. The controller will also ensure
adequate dead time between such cycles to prevent damage to the
super-capacitor power amplifier from shoot-through and voltage
transients. The controller opens and closes switches 38-41 in the
output network 37 to produce an amplified version of the input
signal 23, 24 on the super-capacitor signal amplifier output 42,
43, with dead times to prevent damage to the super-capacitor power
amplifier from shoot-through and voltage transients.
FIG. 5 illustrates a layout of a portion of a transmitter 310,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
A band gap (also referred to as gap sub) 202 and an antenna portion
201 may be used. For example, the band gap can be a 31/8''
900-4697B band gap, the antenna head can be a 31/8'' 900-4688A
antenna head (although a gap sub and an antenna head of other
dimensions can be used).
An upper printed circuit board (PCB) 312(1) may include a first
bank of switched capacitors (that provide a positive half cycle
output) and the CPU board. A lower PCB 312(2) may include a second
bank of switched capacitors that may produce the negative half
cycle output. Each PCB may include multiple (for example six)
identical chassis (for example--a 19.5'' long chassis) that may be
attached together with screws end to end to form the whole chassis.
These chassis may be separated from each other by interconnecting
elements 313.
FIG. 6 illustrates a housing 700 of the super-capacitor signal
amplifier according to an embodiment of the invention. The housing
700 includes an external cylindrical envelope 740, two disk shaped
elements 730 that are connected to the opposite ends of the
cylindrical envelope 740, and multiple compartments 710 that are
separated by spacers 720.
FIG. 7 illustrates a method 1000 according to an embodiment of the
invention.
Method 1000 includes stages 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040, 1050 and
1060.
Stage 1010 may be executed in parallel to other stages of method
1000. It is noted that some stages can be executed after stage 1010
ends. Multiple iterations of stages 1020-1070 can be executed while
stage 1010 is executed.
Stage 1010 includes drilling a hole in a geological formation.
Stage 1020 includes collecting information about the drilling.
Stage 1020 is followed by stage 1030 of relaying the information to
a transmitter.
Stage 1030 is followed by stage 1040 of receiving, by a
transmitter, information from the sensor module.
Stage 1040 is followed by stage 1050 of amplifying the information
by a super-capacitor amplifier to provide amplified information.
The super-capacitor amplifier comprises a plurality of switched
capacitor converters, each switched capacitor converter comprises a
plurality of converter stages, each converter stage comprises
capacitors and switches that are arranged to perform a current
amplification of an input signal; wherein each converter stage is
arranged to operate with alternating charge cycles and discharge
cycles. The number of bits that are transmitted can be dependent
upon the encoding scheme.
Stage 1050 is followed by stage 1060 of providing the amplified
information to a first element and to a second element of an
antenna, the first and second elements of the antenna are located
at two opposite sides of a band gap. The amplified information can
be provided to these two elements in a bipolar manner, in a
uni-polar manner, in a differential manner and the like.
Stage 1060 is followed by stage 1070 of transmitting, by the
antenna, the amplified information via the geological
formation.
Stage 1060 may include switching, by the output network, in an
alternating manner (for example--having a cycle of about 500
micro-seconds), between switched capacitor converters and the two
outputs of the transmitter.
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and
described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and
equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art.
It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within
the true spirit of the invention.
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